Dan Friedman and Jay Michaelson
Jay: I don't think an undifferentiated knowledge that one is the One - I don't think that's something that is picked or chosen. Joslin identifies it as a 'peak experience,' and so do I. Seven varieties of running-dependent ecstasy are, doubtless, lovely mindstates. But lovely mindstates are not the point of contemplative practice: being present with whatever mindstate is happening right now, as well as whatever else is happening, is. In fact, it's interesting to me that Joslin did not write a Christian-particularist account of his spiritual path; many Christian mystics (John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila) had explicitly Christian visions prior to what they described as a merging with the Divine Unity. These 'intermediate steps' are much like the varieties of ecstasy to which you referred. They are incidental to contemplative practice, often quite pleasant (for better or for worse). I don't agree that Joslin is particularist in his selection of practices, but even if he is, it matters more that he is universalist in describing their results.
The intermediate results differ in archery, pottery, serving tea, martial arts, playing the piano. But the ultimate results are the same, so long as the chattering ego quiets down and lets the original Mind work. Consequently, we should be able to practice God-ing in everything, from scheduling appointments to buying groceries. But for most of us, this is too much to ask; the mind is too playful to stimulate in this way, and so we need practices that quiet it. Joslin's book is not unlike Zen Guitar, Zen in the Art of Archery, and every other book that notices how a practice can lead us to the One.
Dan: This is a good and kind point you make, Jay, about the multitude of paths to an infinitely diverse One -- but it isn't Joslin's point. For me elevating Joslin's book to the level of Zen in the Art of Archery pretends that Joslin understands his own practice of running as one in a number of distinct but related practices of which prayer is one and running is another. For Joslin prayer is the path to God and running is merely one way of praying.
Jay: I'll agree with the wisdom in that statement, even if it's not a description of Joslin. As the Zen masters say, when carrying water, carry water. When chopping wood, chop wood. (Or were those the Jewish examples... I can't remember anymore.)
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